Raiders’ Marshawn Lynch sits during national anthem

As he did all of last season, Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch remained seated during the national anthem prior to Friday night’s preseason opener against the Detroit Lions in Oakland.

Lynch sat for the anthem throughout his first season with the Raiders. He has not publicly explained the practice.

Whether it will draw reprimand for Lynch this season remains to be seen. The NFL in May adopted a policy requiring players on the field to stand during the anthem or to remain in the locker room, with teams facing fines if their players do not stand.

The policy has been put on hold, though, amid negotiations between the league and players’ union.

Lynch was the only Raiders player to sit during the anthem Friday night. On their sideline, the Lions stood in a line with their arms linked.

New rule: Safety Karl Joseph became the first Raiders player penalized under the NFL’s new rule prohibiting lowering of the helmet to initiate contact. Joseph was flagged after delivering a hit on Lions running back Ameer Abdullah in the second quarter.

The league adopted the rule in March following a 2017 season that included an increase in reported concussions and numerous high-profile incidents. It immediately gave rise to questions of how the guidelines would be enforced.

Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, center left, sits near the sideline just before the national anthem at an NFL preseason football game between the Raiders and the Detroit Lions in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Lynch remained seated for the anthem. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) less

Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, center left, sits near the sideline just before the national anthem at an NFL preseason football game between the Raiders and the Detroit Lions in Oakland, Calif., ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

Image
1of/1

Caption

Close

Image 1 of 1

Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, center left, sits near the sideline just before the national anthem at an NFL preseason football game between the Raiders and the Detroit Lions in Oakland, Calif., Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. Lynch remained seated for the anthem. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) less

Oakland Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch, center left, sits near the sideline just before the national anthem at an NFL preseason football game between the Raiders and the Detroit Lions in Oakland, Calif., ... more

Photo: Jeff Chiu / Associated Press

Raiders’ Marshawn Lynch sits during national anthem

1 / 1

Back to Gallery

The penalty carries a loss of 15 yards and automatic first down as well as potential ejection and applies to all players on the field. Joseph was not ejected.

Who’s out: Cornerback Gareon Conley emerged from the tunnel in uniform before the game and went through warm-ups with the defensive backs. Conley did not start, as Daryl Worley and Rashaan Melvin opened the game at cornerback.

Conley has not practiced since the first day of training camp, when he sustained a hip strain in a drill. The Raiders envision the 2017 first-round pick starting this season after he missed all but two games in his rookie year with a shin injury.

Among the Raiders not in uniform were rookie defensive end Arden Key and safety Marcus Gilchrist. Rookie tackle Brandon Parker (ankle) dressed for warm-ups, but was limping and did not play.

Briefly: Jon Gruden’s first game back at the Coliseum as Raiders head coach was handled subtly by the team. The lone in-stadium mention came during pregame introductions from the public-address announcer. Gruden remained stoic on the sideline as he received a loud ovation. ... Raiders captains for the game were: Quarterback Derek Carr, defensive end Bruce Irvin, center Rodney Hudson, linebacker Derrick Johnson and linebacker Kyle Wilber. ... As expected, All-Pro defensive end Khalil Mack remained absent amid a contact holdout. By missing the first preseason game, Mack incurred a fine of $814,000 under the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement.